In HSS sections, all material is located at the outside edges of the member, where it can most effectively resist bending and buckling. That means for tall columns, HSS can weigh less than an equivalent wide flange while supporting the same load. The closed shape of HSS sections make them vastly stronger than wide flange and other open shapes in torsion, reduces coating costs due to its surface area being 50% smaller than wide flange, and has the potential to reduce maintenance costs with a smooth, uniform surface.
In North America, wall thicknesses and lengths for HSS produced to ASTM A500 or ASTM A1085 specifications are as follows:
| HSS Type | Wall Thicknesses Available | Common Lengths |
|---|---|---|
| Square, Rectangular, & Round HSS | 0.125″ to 1″+* | 20′ to 60’+ |
*With Atlas Tube Jumbo HSS
HSS is often more expensive than wide flange per pound. However, in many applications, engineers can leverage HSS to achieve the same strength as wide flange while reducing weight as well as finishing and maintenance expenses. In the long run, opting for HSS lowers overall costs. Check out how much you can save on weight and cost with our free HSS vs. Wide Flange Comparison Tool.
Standard surface preparation methods like abrasive blasting or power cleaning work on HSS and are often less expensive than wide flange due to its reduced surface area (up to 50% less). When coating the interior of HSS, specialized processes or inspection ports may be required.
Atlas Tube is the ONLY manufacturer in North America offering Made in USA Jumbo HSS. Our largest sizes are:
Filling HSS columns with concrete is a cost-efficient way of increasing axial capacity. In some cases, it can also eliminate the need for fireproofing on the exterior of the column, further reducing cost. When designing composite HSS columns, attention must be paid to the connection (by friction or other means) between the steel and concrete for the best results.
Some of our favorite HSS technical resources and tools include:
Torsional design of HSS is governed by AISC 360-22 (the specification portion of the Steel Construction Manual), Section H3. The closed section eliminates axial stress due to warping, leading to simpler calculations and greater capacity than an equivalent wide flange or other open section.
HSS columns are subject to both global (flexural) buckling and, in some cases, local buckling limit states. Global buckling capacity can be determined based on section E3 of AISC 360-22. Local buckling applies to thin-walled HSS, where the slenderness ratio exceeds the limits shown in Table B4.1a. The limit state of local buckling can be calculated based on section E7. For HSS members shown in the compression capacity tables of the AISC Steel Manual (Tables 4-3 through 4-5), the effects of local buckling are already accounted for when applicable.
The best path to a greener building is using less steel, and HSS shines with up to a 60% weight reduction as compared to equivalent wide flange columns. HSS made by Atlas Tube uses up to 70% recycled steel from electric arc furnaces (which emit significantly less C02) and can reduce a building’s embodied carbon via domestic production and shortened supply chains.
When designing HSS connections, engineers must account for the flexibility of the member’s walls, which can limit connection strength and may require reinforcement. This phenomenon is not limited to HSS, but the inaccessibility of the member requires special attention to be paid to certain limit states like face plastification. Limited interior access has also historically restricted bolting options, although new technologies like the Shuriken™ Structural Nut Keeper have made HSS connections more efficient.
Download our collection of Shuriken Conceptual Details here.
Generally, a single-plate shear connection (or shear tab) welded directly to an HSS wall is the simplest shear connection. Single-plate shear connections are limited to HSS with non-slender walls (See AISC 360-22 Table B4.1a), though other standard shear connections, such as single angles, can be utilized in cases where the HSS wall is slender. In addition to the typical limit states required for single-plate connections to wide flange columns, HSS column faces must be checked for punching shear. See AISC Manual (16th Ed.) page 10-96 for more info.
There are a variety of moment connections that can be used to connect wide flange beams to HSS columns. Generally, these connections come with a trade-off between capacity and economy of fabrication. The HSS Connections Hub from Atlas Tube includes several different moment connections that engineers can experiment with to find the right balance of simplicity and capacity for their project.
Yes! Traditionally, bolted connections to HSS have required access holes or attachments to the outside of the member. Fortunately, thanks to the Shuriken Structural Nut Keeper from Atlas Tube, many connections such as splices, shear, and moment connections can now be field–bolted. One–sided connectors such as Hollo-Bolt and Blind Bolt can also be useful when designing field-bolted HSS connections.
There are currently three preapproved moment connections for intermediate and special moment frames using HSS columns: DuraFuse, Side Plate, and ConnexTech. All three of these systems are proprietary and the companies offer design support to engineers incorporating the system.
Yes. We created the HSS Connections Hub so that engineers could have a one-stop-shop for HSS design tools and calculators. With dozens of comprehensive Connection Calculators alongside easily exportable calculation reports and downloadable Typical HSS Connection Details, the HSS Connections Hub helps engineers replace customized spreadsheets, design fabricator-friendly connections, and increase team collaboration.
Yes. Atlas Tube’s Engineering Experts are industry veterans and HSS specialists who are here to educate and support other engineers and architects on how to optimize HSS design. Their job is to help engineers design innovative HSS solutions, assist with connection detailing, and fix HSS connection challenges.
Most connection design software packages have limited support for HSS connections, which makes designing and detailing with HSS more challenging and can lead to details that are costlier to fabricate. We created the HSS Connections Hub to fill this gap, offering dozens of Typical HSS Connection Details and comprehensive Connection Calculators to increase project efficiency and precision.
The HSS Connections Hub is a complimentary tool.
The HSS Connections Hub offers a variety of shear, moment, truss (TYKX), splice, and bracing connections. The full list can be found here.
All resources in the HSS Connections Hub are based on the newest edition of the AISC Steel Construction Manual (16th Edition, 2023). All Connection Calculators cite the appropriate code references for designing connections in the United States, with Canadian code coming soon.
The HSS Connection Hub’s Typical HSS Details library is available in AutoCAD (.DWG), Revit (.RVT), and .PDF formats for direct integration into existing libraries and software suites.
Yes. Each Connection Calculator features a live diagram, as well as utilization and limit state utilization percentages that auto-update when changing connection parameters and properties.
For app and software-related questions, reach out to help@clearcalcs.com. For any questions pertaining to designing HSS connections or using the Hub, check out our Quick Start Guide or get in touch with our team of Engineering Experts.
It is not possible to design atypical HSS connections in the Hub at this time. If you run into an atypical detail connection while designing, the HSS specialists on our Engineering Experts team can help.
Yes. Our Webinars page features HSS Connections Hub content recorded by structural engineers and other industry experts. Atlas Tube also routinely publishes HSS case studies and hosts webinars with engineers, architects, and builders that count towards Professional Development Hours (PDH). Get in touch with Atlas Tube to stay up to date on training sessions, webinars, and HSS Connections Hub news.
Yes. Submit any connection requests, feature ideas, and feedback to hub@atlastube.com. We want to hear from you!
Yes. Calculation reports with a company logo can be quickly produced in either summary or fully detailed versions and downloaded as a .PDF. Fully detailed reports feature every single line of calculations alongside code references.
Yes! The HSS Connections Hub includes many of the most common and efficient field-bolted HSS connections using Shuriken. That includes HSS splices and shear and moment connections for HSS beams. If there are additional connections you’d like to see, let us know at hub@atlastube.com.